Rise of the Moors appears to be part of a larger movement labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as “Moorish Sovereign Citizens.”

This movement, which the SPLC deems an extremist group, emerged in the 1990s as a combination of the ideologies of two older movements. One of these is the Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA), one of several Black Muslim movements – the Nation of Islam being a related organization – founded in the early 20^th century in the U.S. Founded in New Jersey in 1913 by Noble Drew Ali. The MSTA taught that Black Americans were descended from Moors and should embrace their Moorish identity and Islam as their heritage.

Despite drawing their identities from the MSTA, the latter organization has officially disavowed the Rise of the Moors group.

Per The Boston Globe, ideologies around sovereignty itself can be traced back to 1970s white supremacist group, Posse Comitatus, and denounces governmental institutions.

Jacqueline D. Moore

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